World’s first Twobby set to redefine mass lobbying

Campaigners join 60 national charities to press for funding and reform of social care.

A coalition of 60 charities is redefining parliamentary mass lobbying with the launch of the world's first #twobby.

The Care and Support Alliance, a coalition of 60 organisations representing disabled, older people and their families, has launched the first ever online interactive lobby, to support a traditional mass rally of parliament which will take place on March 6. The twobby and lobby will apply parliamentary pressure, as campaigners tell their MPs that the care system is in crisis, and that families across England urgently need funding and reform to help care for loved ones. http://carelobby2012.org.uk/twobby/

Simon Gillespie, Chair of the Care and Support Alliance and CEO of the MS Society said, ‘The twobby will have a major impact, not just in securing support for social care reform, but redefine the future power of parliamentary lobbying by providing real time involvement and interaction with Members of Parliament. Most importantly for the Care and Support Alliance, the twobby will enable people who are housebound or disabled to enter into dialogue with their MP and to directly influence the formation of a Government policy that will affect us all.'

The #twobby will be hosted on twitter where lobbyists can pose questions to their MPs on @carelobby2012. Live updates will be posted, together with responses from MPs Ministers, Shadow Ministers, campaigners and video vox pops.

Social care is currently on the brink of collapse. It cannot cope with a rapidly ageing population and positive impact of people living longer with illness and disability.

Those who use the social care system can no longer tolerate a social care system which leaves many with no support and others with poor quality services. The public are angry that they can face huge care charges and end up losing all their savings or being forced to sell their home.

The Government is due to announce its plans to reform social care later in the Spring in 2012. MPs and ministers need to act now to reform the social care system, ensuring a fair and sustainable care system which delivers dignity, independence and peace of mind for older and disabled people and their families. Failure to act will lead to more of the cuts, neglect and abuse in social care, at great cost to our economy, public services and society.